Canada Invents

A richly illustrated celebration of Canadian ingenuity What do the Ballard fuel cell, a wind-up Walkman, and a programmable hand have in common? How about Java, a conductive concrete and basketball? Give up? They were all invented by Canadians. Everyone knows that Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone but you will be amazed to find out just how ingenious Canadians have been throughout history. Inventions often evolve from trying to overcome a problem. What's the number one problem during the Canadian winter? From early Inuit inventions like sunglasses, igloos and snowshoes to Joseph-Armand Bombardier's Ski-Doo in 1959 and concrete that conducts electricity to melt snow on runways, Canadians have come up with extraordinary ways to deal with cold, ice and snow. Canada is a huge country and moving people, information and cargo from place to place has always been a challenge. Canada Invents highlights the uniquely fascinating ways inventors have found to keep Canada working from coast to coast. In this well-rounded book readers will also discover how Canadian inventors have saved lives and improved technology around the world. This book is tribute to Canadian ingenuity! A few highlights of the inventions, thematically arranged, are: Snow and Ice: Inventions to Cope with Canada's Cold It's true, Canadians spend a lot of time shivering and shoveling. Canadian winters have prompted many clever Canadians inventors to deal with cold, ice and snow. Ka-booom! Inventions of Energy and Power This section looks at some important, and some just plain intriguing, Canadian contributions to making and saving the important resource of energy. "Hello? Is Anybody There?" Inventions that Communicate Over the last two hundred years, Canadians have played a huge part in inventing devices and processes that make it easier for people to communicate and connect -- and they continue to do so today. On a Roll: Inventions on Wheels Canada is a vast country to travel across. Maybe that's why Canadians have made such inventive contributions to machines on wheels. Whether for practical purposes or simply to let us have fun (on skateboards or Ferris wheels, for instance) Canadians are on a roll with their wheel-related ideas. Some Body: Inventions that meet Physical Challenges For years, inventors in Canada have been rising to the challenge of finding ways to help us cope with the challenges of physical injuries or other problems with our bodies. Whether it's dealing with a wound, a weak heart, or the loss of a limb, Canadian inventors have made a significant contribution. Inventor Spotlights throughout the book tell the absorbing stories of the men and women behind the inventions, and tell us more about their diverse worlds and lives. The stories often show how the ability to face adversity is just as significant as the inventions themselves. A few examples are: Joseph-Armand Bombardier Bombardier loved solving problems from a very young age. His best known invention is the Ski-Doo, which lead the founding of a world leading company. Abraham Gesner Born in 1797, Gesner invented kerosene -- the magic key that unlocked the potential of petroleum and eventually the oil industry. James Naismith Looking for a way to enliven a class of bored gym students, teacher James Naismith, using peach baskets and 13 rules, invented the game of basketball. Susan Hughes has written a lively and comprehensive tour through some of Canada's most famous achievements (and also its hidden gems). Hundreds of colorful photographs will amaze you as you travel through thousands of years of technology, from historic to futuristic. Canada Invents is a triumphant volume of creativity, and an important addition to every family, classroom